The art of love: Rembrandt
Full of emotional promise: 'The Jewish Bride'/'Portrait of Two Figures from the Old Testament', 1667, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nobody knows who this couple are, in fiction or in reality. Rembrandt's painting, traditionally titled "The Jewish Bride", is now thought to depict a pair of Bible figures from the Old Testament, although there aren't enough clues to identify them. And they're presumably based on a pair of actual 17th century Dutch sitters, posed in the studio, who are equally unknown.
These mysteries hardly matter, though. Whether you take this painting as a legendary character study, or a real life portrait, its emotional subject shines through. It's a picture of troth-plighting, of weddedness.
The two slightly heavy figures make a simple, stable pyramid in the centre of the picture, their rounded forms bathed in gentle light. They have experienced faces. They do not fix one another with a passionate gaze. They think quietly of one another, and hold on to one another. The picture's feeling is invested in their laying on of hands.
His right hand is laid flat over her heart. Her left, answering, rests its fingers on it. The pressure is firm and steady, and his voluminous sleeve holds power. But at the same time their touch is light and tender.
This is an image, not of grasping desire, but of mutual support and trust and being sure of your luck an ideal image of married love.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments